Dr. John Harvey McHenry Dunn, Professor Emeritus of the University of Missouri's Plant Science Department, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at home surrounded by his immediate family.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Calvary Episcopal Church, followed by visitation and a reception with the family in the Parish Hall.

John was born in Upper Darby, Pa., on March 9, 1937, the son of Robert Henry and Grace McHenry Dunn. He married Marilee "Cricket" Grabill on Aug. 26, 1961, in Altoona, Pa. He graduated from Lansdowne Aldan High School in 1955 and was president of his senior class. In 1959, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of Sigma Nu and the Delphi honor society. He served in the U.S. Army in Fort Lee, Va., after college. After three years working in retail at Lord & Taylor in New York, he entered graduate school at Rutgers University, where he received his doctorate in turfgrass science in 1968. He joined the faculty at the MU in the fall of 1968 and initiated the turfgrass research program for the College of Agriculture. His appointment was in research, teaching and extension. He served as his department's director of graduate studies for several years. He was senior author of a textbook, "Turf in the Transition Zone," plus several hundred technical and extension articles. As a member of the American Agronomy Society, he served on the board of directors and was chairman of the Turfgrass Division. He was active in The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America where he served on the education committee for several years. He was an advisor to the Missouri Valley Turfgrass Association for 35 years and received two service awards from that organization. His academic specialty was grasses in the transition zone, especially cold tolerance of zoysia grasses. He presented his research findings at national and international meetings throughout his career. He was an invited speaker in all states touching I-70, from Colorado to Maryland and many other states. He retired in 2006, continuing to teach his turgrass course for another three years.

John was a longtime member of the Columbia Track Club, coached City League soccer and served as coordinator of the Columbia Girls' Soccer League. He was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church.

John felt his greatest contribution in life was his two children. He adored his children-in-law, his grandchildren and loved his name "Pop Pop." He was a voracious reader and a connoisseur of classical music, opera and the Civil War.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilee "Cricket" Dunn; a son, John Malinin Dunn (Catherine); a daughter Amy Dunn Moore (John); five grandchildren, Natalia Malinin Dunn, Raisa Malinin Dunn, Wilson McHenry Moore, Brooks Turner Moore and Anna Jane Moore; and one brother, Robert Peale Dunn. Also surviving are his niece, Colleen Treml (Paul); his great-nephews, Tyler and Adam Treml; and great-niece Hayley Treml.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Sonya DePaula.